www.televisionreporter.com: covering the Long War

Ah, Christmas in Baghdad.

Reporters across city had a hard time sleeping overnight, tossing and turning in anticipation for another round of mortar and rocket attacks. Saddam's elves did not disappoint.

A salvo of rockets hit the US military green zone just after dawn. Helicopters were quickly dispatched to hunt down the secret Santas, gunfire and sirens providing choral accompaniment for this Christmas wake-up call.

All was not silent and bright.

If Chris Kringle had the poor sense to climb down chi mneys overnight, he would have been met with what a military spokesperson describes as, "all the offensive capability of the American Armed Forces.

AC-130 gunships, Apache helicopters, mounted partrols all against some guys with a mortar in the back of a pickup truck.

They had the news desk here scrambling for information to feed the rapacious New York desk. All in all: a good dozen other attacks.

The Sheraton Hotel, home of Fox News and some BBCers was hit for the second time in 12 hours.

And one o f the mortar rounds hit just two blocks from our compound.

My good colleagues at Canadian Television (CTV) got a bit closer to the action. Reporter Murray Oliver and Cameraman Al Stephens were embedded with the 1st Armoured Division, in one of the more d angerous neighbourhoods of the city, Adhamiya. A handmade bomb (IED or improvised explosive device) blew up some meters away, killing an American soldier. That makes 205 US military deaths since the end of formal hostilities.

Earlier this month, a Time Magazine reporter and photographer were injured in the same neighbourhood.

Thankfully this oft-rumoured, so-called "Christmas offensive" petered out by the afternoon.

A Bureau Christmas dinner is the only deadline tonight.

***

Fijian Christmas Carols, at an American Base, in Iraq.

One of those moments, you can't make up.

It was at a service held at the Baghdad International Airport. Fijians protect the base, along with N epalese Ghurkhas, New Zealanders, etc as contracted security.

Most of the troops have been here for about eight months. The Christmas season doesn't make it any easier. But the boxes from home, and hometowns, seem to bring some cheer.

They're weary. And ready to go home.

Godspeed...

Thanks to The Toronto Star and tech / journalist Guru David Akin of the Globe and Mail and CTV for links and props.

Check out their links.

They're good people.

An earlier assignment: click to CBC's "The Current" for a "soundscape" and photos of an Iraqi family touched by war:

The audio is here..

He's caught.

CTV National News here

Global National>

I have been a negligent blogger, and for that I apologise.

I am a journalist, used to filing certainties, facts, packaged for demographics, statement for first drafts of history.

From now on, a more personal reflection.

For the record: my comments are my own and in no way reflect, or are held, by any of my employers.

From now on: this blog is not news.

It is observation, opinion, not a well thought out, balanced look at Iraq.

It is just one Iraq Hack's experience, written down, mistakes, wonder, observations, despair, illusions, snippets of truth, and all.

I apologize, in advance.

And ask those readers to contribute now as well:

I'll throw my thoughts, and reportage, out there.

But: what do you want to know?

The internet is a two way mirror.

Comment below.

Converse.

Discuss.

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Al-Qaim, Iraq, along the border with Syria.

Soldiers with Bandit Troop, 1, 3rd Armoured Cavalry regiment rest during "Operation Rifles Blitz."

All images and content Copyright: Tom Popyk/www.televisionreporter.com